Dwyane Wade is in full support of his 12-year-old coming out as transgender. The retired NBA star opened up about the child’s gender identity during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Tuesday (Feb. 11).
“Me and my wife, Gabrielle [Union], we are proud parents of a child in the LGBTQ+ community and proud allies as well,” said Wade. “We take our roles and our responsibility as parents very seriously so when our child comes home with a question, an issue, or anything, it’s our jobs as parents to give them the best information that we can, the best feedback that we can. And that doesn’t change because sexuality is now involved.”
Wade went on to share the story of how Zaya, who was born with the name “Zion,” revealed that she wanted to identify as female. After having a talk with Zaya, Wade and Union reached out to others in the LGBTQ+ community, including the cast of the series Pose.
“We’re just trying to figure out as much information as we can to make sure that we give our child the best opportunity to be her best self,” Wade explained.
Union formally introduced the “compassionate” and “whip smart” tween to the world via a social media video on Tuesday. “What’s the point of being on this earth if you’re going to try to be someone you’re not,” Zaya says in the video while driving a golf cart with Wade in the passenger seat. “You’re not even living as yourself, which is like the dumbest concept to me.”
Meet Zaya. She’s compassionate, loving, whip smart and we are so proud of her. It’s Ok to listen to, love & respect your children exactly as they are. Love and light good people. pic.twitter.com/G2lLVdD2VT
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) February 11, 2020
Watch Wade’s full interview below.